News Analysis: Green light of disarmament seen in talks between Mozambique government and opposition

MAPUTO, March 24 (Xinhua) -- A green light can be seen in the tunnel as the result of negotiations between the Mozambican government and the main opposition, the former rebel movement, Renamo are showing its outlines in the capital city of Maputo, since last year.

The two sides have agreed early this month that there was a need for an urgent ceasefire, which has been called for by most Mozambicans for so long, to end the ongoing armed hostilities in the country.

On Monday, delegations of military experts are holding talks in Maputo to discuss the report on the disarmament issue and its observation by international observers.

The head of the Renamo delegation to the talks, Simon Macuiane, said that "progress has already been made on these issues. What remains now is to find the modalities of guaranteeing the ceasefire on the part of the international observers."

Jose Pacheco, the agriculture minister leading the government's side, said for his part that the disarmament issue was unconditional.

The ceasefire issue concerns some parts of the central province of Sofala, including Maringue, Santunjira, Gorongosa and Inhaminga, where fighting has been reported to be going on since last October.

The situation is serious and the local and international observers have a hard work to secure the ceasefire, since the first disarmament from the 1992 peace agreement signed in Rome by the two sides did not work to its best.

Renamo refused to integrate its fighters into the police force, for its leader, Afonso Dhlakama claimed that the police force served merely the ruling Frelimo government, and he would not like to see his men to work for the then president, Joaquim Chissano's administration at the time.

Renamo has been responding to bombardments by the army in the Inhaminga and Gorongosa areas, and the latter had been acted as Renamo's military headquarters during the 16-year civil war against the Frelimo government.

It is believed that Dhlakama is still in the Gorongosa mountain, after he fled Satunjira last October when the army stormed it.

Fighting continued and dozens of soldiers and citizens lost their lives as a result, but what the Mozambicans need the most is peace, stability and tranquility in order to continue their normal life.

"We don't want war any more. We want peace," Maria Botao, Maputo city's secretary of the Mozambican Women's Organization(OMM) told Xinhua on Monday, adding that people want to see families live in peace and children going to school without fear.

For Maria Botao, who had fought during the struggle for Mozambique's independence, civil war could plunge the country into poverty and destroy the economic development.

"No one is interested in the war. The government and Renamo must resolve their differences," one of the housewives who refused to be named in fear for victimization told Xinhua.